This past week on the season finale of The Bachelor, Ben Higgins proposed to Lauren Bushnell leaving JoJo Fletcher in heartbreak. JoJo spoke to People Magazine about her outlook moving forward and her reaction to her breakup with Ben Higgins stating:

“It was really hard for me. But when I got home

[from Jamaica, and her end on the show], I took a couple of weeks to myself to think about everything. The conclusion was that it happened, I was lucky to have gone through that, I learned so much and now I know what I want and I know what I deserve.”

Whether a relationship lasts three weeks or ten years, breakups can leave us feeling heartbroken and lost. While JoJo has had months since the breakup happened to when the show’s finale aired, it can still be extremely difficult to get to the stage of acceptance that JoJo has seemed to find.

Below are 5 Tips to Cope with Heartbreak:

Allow Yourself to Feel: After a breakup it is normal to feel a range of emotions, including everything from denial, bargaining, sadness, anger, and acceptance. These feelings can happen over a course of minutes or last years, and the emotions do not necessarily follow the same timeline or trajectory for each person. Being able to feel these emotions is part of the grieving process. Without these emotions we would not be able to as effectively handle the pains and losses that occur in our lives.

Take One Day at a Time: There is no set timeline for healing. Be willing to give yourself time to heal and gather yourself again. It is important to not set a deadline in order to feel better, it will happen when it happens.

Talk About It: Have a support system to get through the difficult times. This does not mean you have to tell everyone in your circle, however even just having one person to confide in for understanding and compassion can be very beneficial. If you are unsure about talking with a friend or family member you can reach out to someone more neutral.

Maintain a Normal Routine: Although the first reaction may be to want to be in a dark room listening to sad music with a gallon of ice cream, being able to maintain some sort of normal routine can help along the healing process. Becoming withdrawn can make the situation even worse. Continuing your normal routine or even picking a new hobby can renew a sense of purpose. Participating in a new hobby or activity can help you learn more about yourself and even widen your social circle.

Do Not Lose Faith: It takes a certain amount of courage and faith to go through heartache and emerge on the other side. Believing in yourself and your future possibilities opens up your world to many different options.

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Author:Stephanie Booth, MS a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern at Total Life Counseling Center in Orlando. Total Life Counseling Center specializes in depression & anxiety and our experts can be reached at (407) 248-0030.

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Orlando Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, Women’s Issues, Marriage Counselor, and Child and Adolescent Therapist. Stephanie’s passion for counseling derives from her own experience of growing up in a divorced household, dealing with poor self-esteem, experiencing bullying as a teenager, and relationship struggles. In her journey she has found ways to heal from the past and have healthy relationships as well as self-confidence. She believes that her job is to empower her clients to make the decisions that work best for them in navigating through life’s difficult situations.